1. Dhruv Chandrikaben Hasmukhbhai Prajapati is a Final Year MBBS student at Parul Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Parul University, Vadodara, India, with a keen interest in medical research, medical education, evidence-based medicine, and the responsible use of technology in healthcare.

His interest in research began during his undergraduate medical training and has since developed into active involvement in study design, literature synthesis, data analysis, scientific writing, and peer review. He is an ICMR Short Term Studentship (STS) Fellow and an Elsevier Certified Peer Reviewer, with additional training in Good Clinical Practice. Dhruv has published two peer-reviewed research papers in PubMed- and Scopus-indexed journals and currently has eight additional manuscripts under peer review in PubMed- and Scopus-indexed journals. His published work spans medical education and the evaluation of artificial intelligence in medical literature synthesis. He has also worked on projects at the intersection of healthcare, technology, sustainability, and public health.

Alongside research, he has been involved in student leadership and academic initiatives at his institution, currently serving as General Secretary of the Student Council. His academic journey has been recognized with multiple distinctions and medals during his MBBS training, including overall academic honours.

The Young Researcher’s Companion grew out of his own experience of learning medical research largely by navigating the process step by step. The book is his attempt to make that journey less intimidating for the next generation of medical students, particularly those who have been told to “do some research” but were never shown how.

2. Dr. Reekee Bhartiben Nirmalkumar Patel, MD (Forensic Medicine), is Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, at Parul Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Parul University. He completed his undergraduate medical education and his MD in Forensic Medicine from Gujarat University.

Over a career spanning several government, semi-government, and private medical institutions, he has built broad experience in teaching, academic administration, forensic practice, and research, with particular expertise in forensic medicine and toxicology. He has authored and co-authored research articles in reputed national and international peer-reviewed journals, and his academic interests include medical education, curriculum development, and evidence-based forensic practice. Alongside his academic responsibilities, he is closely involved in mentoring medical students and promoting research and scholarly activity at his institution.

As co-author, Dr. Patel brings this institutional experience and academic grounding to The Young Researcher's Companion, shaping the book's practical guidance with the perspective of someone who has spent years mentoring students through their first research projects.